Mixing, dissolving, or dispersing apparatus



Jan. 27, 1931. e. c. BAKEWELL MIXING, DISSOLVING, OR DISPERSING' APPARATUS Filed March 20. 1929 Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GIFFORD C. IBAKEWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE TURBO-MIXER. COB- POBATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MIXING, DISSOLVING, OR DISPERSING APPARATUS Application filed March 20, 1929. Serial No. 348,434.

My invention relates to apparatus of the class generally called mixing apparatus, but which is especially adapted for the rapid, thorough and eflicient reduction or mixing of solids in liquids, and dissolving, dispersal,

or exceptionally thorough and uniform distribution of colloidal or other particles through the liquid, and analogous uses.

To these ends the invention consists, as broadly described, (in cooperation with a tank and a mixer of known or suitable type therein) in series of stationaryblades, teeth or bafiles, which may have sharp or angularly-directed points or edges, adjacent or surrounding the mixer,-and which act on solids circulated along with the liquid to first break up, or reduce the solids, if they are in large lumps and masses, to smaller sizes or particles, down to colloidal dimensions when desired, and to thoroughly and uniformly disperse (distribute) such particles throughout the liquid.

The apparatus also acts efiiciently on various mixtures or solutions of viscous character, to break up or separate the viscous or stringy ingredients and efiect thorough dispersal thereof throughout the mix.

Other uses or modes of operation, and utility for mixing, dissolving, or dispersing various materials or mixtures, will be understood by skilled persons.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently explained in connection with the following detail description of the accompanying drawing, which shows certain exemplifying embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations may be made, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims. I

In the drawing:'

Fig. 1 is a top plan of apparatus embodyin the invention in one form.

ig. 2 is a vertical section of the lower part of a tank 'including the invention structure.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified bafileplate.

Fig. 4 is a section at 44, Fig. 3.

Tankl may be of any suitable type or form. As shown it has a rounded, or partspherical bottom 2. Centrally in the tank, adjacent or at the bottom is a mixer of any known or suitable type. The function of this mixer is to impel the liquid containing solids to be mixed, or the viscous mixture or solution, providing the necessary circulation of the materials, and at the same time intermixing the ingredients so far as such mixing or impelling apparatus has capacity to do so. As shown the mixer is of a known type, called a turbo-mixer, and includes a bladed rotor or impeller 3 mounted on and driven by a shaft 4, and a stationary, bladed deflector 5 surrounding the impeller.

Around the deflector I provide a multiplicF ity of stationary teeth, blades, or battles, to act upon the circulated material in ways sufficiently explained above and hereafter. While the/blades, teeth, or analogous devices may be formed or provided in various ways, as y forming them in the integral material of the tank bottom. In the present specific embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2) plates 6 have blades 7 produced in them by punching and bending operations. The plates are shaped to conform to the tank by riveting, spot-welding, etc. Each plate is one segment or section of an annular series surrounding the deflector, as easily understood in Fig. 1. This structure or arrangement represents one easy and economical mode of installing the blades or baflies in the desired position.

The blades desirably project upward, substantially perpendicularly to the plates and tank bottom, and in this instance have their broad faces at right angles to the material flow, which is in radial directions. The

blades are in series of rows, and preferably the blades in adjacent rows are in staggered relation (Fig. 1). Desirably also, the blades,

charged from the deflector blades in general- 1y radial directions, apart of it passing near the tank bottom, and such material is intercepted by the blades or bafiles 7 and caused to pursue a tortuous course through the baflie rows. The hooked ends or teeth 8 also act uponthe material, and the blades and teeth attenuate and disrupt viscous or stringy components. Solids, if present at first in large lumps or masses, encounter the blades and teeth and are quickly worn, out, or broken down into small particles, or to colloidal dimensions, and these particles or colloids are thoroughly and uniformly dispersed through the'liquid or viscous body, in much shorter time, and more efli'ectively, than has been possible with previous mechanisms. The blades or baflies also act to free solid masses or particles from gelatinous coatings (as in an acid dissolving or reducing process) and thus expedite the reduction or dissolving of the solids.

Figs. 3 and 4 show one modification, in

-which blades-10 are arranged in generally reduction of solids and dispersal'of solid particles throughout the material, the bafile blades being arranged on segmental plates which are assembled to form an annular series about the circulating means.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination with a tank and a mixer therein, a multiplicity of bafile blades adjacent and about the mixer and arranged to cause circulated material to travel in atort-uous course and expedite dissolving, reduction of solids and dispersal of solid particles throughout the material, the blades having angularly directed teeth.

. 3. Apparatus of the class described, com prising, in combination .with a tank and a mixer therein, a multiplicity of bafile blades adj acent and about the mixer and arranged to cause circulated material to travel in a tortuous course and expedite dissolving, reduction of solids and dispersal of solid particles throughout the material, the baflle blades being arranged edgewise to material flow and having sharp leading edges.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination with a tank and a mixer therein, a multiplicity of baflie blades adjacent and about the mixer and arranged to cause circulated material to travel in a tortuous course and ex edite dissolving, reduction of solids and dispersalof solid particles throughout the material, the battle blades being arranged on segmental plates impeller, and circular rows, each row includor tearing ing a multiplicity of shredding teeth substantially at the tank bottom about the deflector, the teeth being arranged to act on circulated material and tear, shred or disrupt solid components thereof and expedite mixing.

6. Mixing and shredding or tearing apparatus of the class set forth comprising a tank, and therein a rotary bladed mixer which receives material centrally and discharges it rapidly in a substantially horizontal or cross axial plane, and shredding or attritive means surrounding the; mixer, said means consisting of a multiplicity of teeth located substantially in the plane of flow of the material from the mixer and serving to tear, shred or disru t solid components of the mixture and expe ite mixing.

7. Mixin and shreddingpr comminuting apparatus or. material ofa. generally liquid character including solids, semi-solids, viscous or fibrous materials, said apparatus comprising a tank and therein a rotary turboimpeller and a stationary deflector surrounding the impeller, the material being discharged from the deflector in generally radial directions and substantially in a cross axial plane of the impeller, and a multiplicity of relatively small tearing or comminuting blades arranged to occupy an annular space of substantial area about the deflector and substantially in the plane of material flow therefrom, said blades actin repeatedly on relatively solid components ofthe material to tear, disrupt or comminute the same and expedite mixing.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

' GIFFORD C. BAKEWELL. 

